A/N: To anyone who's been waiting for updates on MerAdd's or MerMark's I apologize! I don't know why but I just can't write them at the minute, nothing wants to come out for those pairings!
I finished this a couple of weeks ago, don't really know why I didn't post it.
Set 7ish years after after an AU 3x22/23.
Who'd Have Known
[1/2]
~x~
"Woah there little missy" Alex said as as young girl ran straight around a corner and into his legs.
"Sorry" she smiled sheepishly.
"And where is your Mommy?" Alex said crouching down to her level.
"Um" the girl said biting her lip a little "I'm supposed to be waiting for her in the locker room"
"She works here?"
"Sometimes" the girl nodded.
"Well, why don't we go and wait in the locker room together, I was just going there now"
"Mommy said I shouldn't talk to strangers"
"Well, my name's Alex, and I work here, I'm sure your Mommy will be very worried if you're running around the hospital when she thinks you're waiting in the locker room for her"
"You're right" the girl sighed "My names Ellie, I'm 6"
"Nice to meet you Ellie" Alex smiled "Come on, let's go" he said standing up and walking with her towards the locker room.
"Hi Mommy" Ellie smiled as they stepped in.
"Oh my god there you are!" the woman exclaimed running towards her and scooping her in her arms "Don't you ever, ever do that to me again young lady, ever"
"I just wanted to…."
"I don't care what you just wanted to do! I told you to wait here for 5 minutes Ellie"
"Sorry Mommy" Ellie said quietly "I know you said I shouldn't talk to strangers but Alex helped me find my way back"
"Thank….you" she stuttered as she came face to face with a stunned Alex.
"Addison" he breathed.
"A..alex" Addison stuttered standing up "Wha...what are you doing here?"
"I transfered for my peds and neonatal fellowship, what, what are you doing here? I thought you worked at a practice or something"
"I do, I use this place for surgeries, I just needed to check in on a patient, I can't believe you're here"
"I can't believe you left without saying goodbye" Alex said quietly.
"Alex" she whispered "You must know why by now"
"Yeah, I know" he said sadly "Look, what, what are you doing now? My shifts over so…."
"We were just heading home for dinner"
"Well maybe, maybe we could go out, all 3 of us, we should catch up Addison I, I missed you" he said quietly.
"Well Friday night is Mommy and Ellie movie night, I still get working Mom's guilt even if I don't work weekends, we order pizza, eat lots of sugar…."
"Alex can come too!" Ellie exclaimed suddenly "Alex you can come right?"
"Well if it's ok with your Mom" Alex said with a small smile.
"Please Mommy" Ellie said looking up at her.
"Follow my car?" said Addison.
"Ok" Alex smiled.
~x~
"Ok, and what do we want on the pizza baby girl?" Addison asked as she lifted Ellie up to sit on the kitchen counter.
"Alex what do you want on the pizza?" Ellie asked.
"Well when I'm at home, I usually have, pepperoni, bacon, sausage and lots of cheese"
"That's my favourite!" Ellie gasped.
"That is her favourite" Addison said with a laugh "Ok, well, I'm gonna order that, do you want a drink or anything?" she asked Alex.
"Water, please" Alex smiled.
"Here" Addison said throwing him a bottle from the refrigerator.
"Thanks" he smiled "Ell, why don't we go and pick a movie"
"Ok!" Ellie said jumping off the counter and running to the living room.
"She's very energetic" Addison smirked "Which is why I don't care that we eat crap every Friday night, me however, I should probably start pilates again because this" she said gesturing to her body "Not what it used to be"
"Oh whatever" Alex said with a laugh "You don't need to do that, you're gorgeous the way you are"
"Thanks" Addison said with a blush, getting a familiar fluttering in her stomach.
"ALEX!" Ellie shouted.
"I better go…." Alex said stepping backwards.
"Right" Addison breathed "I'll be right in" she waited for him to reach Ellie before walking further into the kitchen and dropping her head against the counter "Don't fall for him again" she whispered to herself "Don't be stupid Addison, get a grip, get a grip" she took a breath before standing up again and dialing out for the pizza.
~x~
"Right" Addison said clapping her hands together "It's way past your bedtime missy" she said tickling Ellie a little who was curled up against Alex's body.
"But…."
"No buts" Addison said with a tiny glare "Come on, I don't want you sleeping all day tomorrow"
"Ok" Ellie said with a yawn "Can Alex take me up?"
Addison looked to Alex helplessly.
"Sure" Alex smiled "Come on Ell" he scooped her up in his arms, she let out a loud giggle "Say goodnight to Mommy" he said bending her down a little towards Addison.
"Night Mommy" Ellie giggled.
"Night baby" Addison said kissing her cheek "Sweet dreams"
"Right Ell, where am I going?" Alex asked as he walked her up the stairs, Addison smiled softly and started to clear up the living room.
~x~
"She ok?" Addison asked as Alex walked down the stairs and over to the sofa, sitting down next to her.
"Yeah, she's asleep already" Alex smiled "She's a great kid Addison"
"Yeah" Addison whispered "She's pretty perfect"
"Look you can tell me to back off but, who, who's her father? Is he around or…."
"I used a donor" Addison said with a tentative smile "Naomi, my best friend, she runs the practice, she's one of the best fertility specialists in the country, I came out here so she could do the tests and, stuff, and I picked a donor, physicist guy, and, and it worked, I wasn't going to move out here, that wasn't the original plan but they had an empty office and she kept saying it, empty office, great place to raise a child, fresh start, and I had all of that in one hand, and Seattle in the other, and I just couldn't bring myself to go back, I needed to keep moving forward, so I moved, I flew back, packed up, and left, and the only reason I regret it was because I cut everyone out of my life, like Callie, I spoke to her once after I left, and I feel so awful" she said with a slight whisper.
"Hey, it's ok" he said taking her hand and rubbing circles against the skin "She'll understand Addison, she will, she didn't look at me for months" he said with a slight laugh "I'm so sorry Addison" he whispered.
"Look let's, let's just forget it ever happened ok? I think Ellie would kill me if I didn't let her see you again" she said with a small smile "I always knew you'd be great with kids and I'm, I'm so proud of you, for taking on neonatal and peds, I didn't think you'd do it, I thought…."
"I'd follow in the footsteps of the great Mark Sloan" Alex said dryly "Yeah well, a certain red head changed my mind on that"
"Oh did she?" Addison said raising her eyebrow.
"Yeah" Alex smiled "She told me that when you get to see a baby heal and go home, and you imagine the life they're going to live, there's nothing better than that, and it never changes, she was right"
"She sounds like a very wise woman"
"She is" Alex said with a laugh "Right well, I should go, I have work tomorrow so…."
"Yeah, sure" Addison smiled, she stood up and walked him to the door "It, it was good to see you Alex" she said softly.
"It was good to see you too" Alex smiled, he reached in and kissed her cheek softly "Bye Addie" he whispered.
"Goodbye Alex" she smiled, she watched as he climbed into his car and waved him goodbye as he drove away, as she closed her front door she let out a sigh and dropped her head against the door.
"Crap" she whispered.
~x~
1 month later.
"Alex!" Ellie shouted running towards him as they met on the Santa Monica pier, Alex scooped her up in his arms as she reached him.
"Hey Ellie girl" he smiled "Hey" he smiled as Addison reached them, kissing her cheek softly.
"Hi" Addison smiled "So, what's the plan?"
"I was thinking we could go on a few rides and then get some food, and then go on the ferris wheel before we go home" Alex smiled.
"Sounds good to me, how about you Ell?" Addison smiled.
"Let's go this way" Ellie said pulling Alex's arm.
~x~
"Ok Ellie girl, what do you want on your hot dog?" Alex asked Ellie.
"Ketchup, but it has to be under the hot dog, not on top"
"She's a little fussy" Addison said with a laugh.
"Well then I guess I am too cuz that's how I like it" Alex smirked "How about you? Can classy ladies like Addison Montgomery eat hot dogs?"
"Shut up" Addison said rolling her eyes "I'll have one with everything please"
"Coming right up" Alex said with a laugh as he walked away.
"So Ell" Addison started "You having fun?"
"Yep" Ellie smiled "I really like Alex Mommy, he's fun"
"Yeah, he is" Addison smiled "I really like him too"
"Mommy, you know Alex from before don't you"
"Yeah I do" Addison said softly "We worked together when Mommy worked in Seattle"
"Why did you leave Seattle if you were friends?"
"It's a long story Ell, I'll tell you when you're a little older"
"Ok" Ellie smiled.
"Here we go" Alex said walking up to them with their hot dogs "M'lady" he smirked passing Addison's to her "And little lady" he said passing Ellie hers, Addison watched as Alex and Ellie ate their food, each bite in sync, every move seemed to be the same, but she shook it off, she shook it off just like she had done over the past month, once they'd finished their food they made their way to the ferris wheel, Ellie sitting in between Alex and Addison, her arms wrapped around Alex, her head resting against him, her eyes slowly closing.
"I think we've worn her out" Alex said with a quiet laugh.
"Yeah" Addison said softly, her fingers running through Ellie's shoulder length red hair.
"Hey, you ok?" Alex said squeezing her hand.
"Yeah, I'm good, I'm, I'm great" she smiled "Thank you for today, she's really taken to you"
"I've really taken to her" Alex said softly "I guess I have a thing for Montgomery women"
"Hmm" she sighed.
"Addison…." Alex started.
"Don't" she said firmly "Don't spoil it, today has been, too good to spoil it with the past, I'm not going to lie and say you didn't hurt me, because you did, but it was almost 7 years ago Alex, let's just, not talk about it ok?"
"Ok" Alex said quietly "Ok" he whispered kissing the top of Ellie's head "Right" he said as the ferris wheel came to a stop, he adjusted Ellie in his arms and climbed out of the carriage, Addison following behind.
"Someone tired?" the woman who operated the wheel asked.
"Yeah" Alex said with a laugh "But at least it shows she had fun"
"She's got Mommy's hair but she's definitely Daddy's girl"
"Yeah, right" Alex said quietly, Addison's head finally connected the dots that had been running around her head, and she knew there was something she needed to do.
"People see what they want to see huh" Alex said with a laugh as they walked towards Addison's car.
"Yeah, they do" she said quietly.
~x~
2 days later.
"Nae, can I talk to you?" Addison said as she stepped into her office.
"Sure, what's up?"
Addison walked into the office, closing the door behind her, and sitting down on the sofa, Naomi slowly moved over and sat next to her "What's wrong Addison?" she asked softly.
"I need you to run a DNA test on Ellie"
"What?" Naomi exclaimed.
"I know, I know it's sounds weird" Addison said shakily "But you, you know Alex right? We've been spending all this time together and Ellie really loves him and, and I watch them, I watch them when they're together and, she looks just like him Nae" she sighed "And they're so alike, just their mannerisms, and, and I've been thinking, doing dates in my head and, I slept with him the day before I came out here, the day before I did the insemination, it's possible Naomi, he, he could be her Dad"
"Wow" Naomi breathed "Have, have you told him?"
"I thought maybe he'd figure it out, do the dates but, I guess because I told him I used a donor he didn't even think about it, I don't, I don't want to tell him until I know"
"We're gonna need a sample from him Addie"
"He fell asleep on my sofa" Addison said pulling a plastic bag which held a swab.
"I don't know if I feel so good about this Addison" Naomi sighed.
"Please Nae, I don't want to tell him unless I'm certain"
"Ok, ok I'll do it" Naomi said taking the swab "It'll take 3 days probably, you know the drill"
"I'd do it myself but, look at that" Addison said holding out her hand which was shaking.
"Right" Naomi said with a laugh "It'll be ok Addie" she said softly.
"Yeah, I really hope so"
~x~
4 days later.
"Hey" Alex smiled as Addison opened her front door "Is she ready?"
"Ellie isn't here, I lied" Addison said quietly "I don't need you to take her today, I need, I need to talk to you"
"You didn't have to lie to get me here" Alex said with a slight laugh "Is everything ok? You look a little pale"
"We just, we, we need to talk" Addison said walking towards the sofas, they sat down next to each other, Alex looking at Addison worriedly.
"Addie" he said placing a soft hand on her knee "You know you can tell me anything"
"You, you know I said Ellie's father was a sperm donor, physicist guy"
"Right" Alex nodded.
"Right" Addison breathed "You see, the thing is, right, think, think about her age"
"Right, she's 6" Alex said slowly "Her birthday is April 2nd"
"Ok, take off 9 months"
"So that's like, July"
"Right, and what, what happened in that July Alex? Something very, significant"
"You left in July, after we, after we did the thing"
"We did the thing" Addison nodded "We did the thing then I came out here, I came out here and I used a donor to get pregnant because I thought, the man thing obviously wasn't working so I'd just have to have my dream without one, so I chose physicist guys sperm and, I did the process and, I got pregnant, but the thing is, I've, I've been watching you, with Ellie, and something just dawned on me, you're just so alike and, I thought about the dates and, and it all works out that, that there's a possibility that…."
"I could be her Dad" Alex whispered "Oh my god Addison, so what, what do we do?"
"Don't be mad but, I took a swab from you when you fell asleep on the sofa and, I got Naomi to run a DNA test for me and, these are the results" she said passing him a piece of paper.
"Oh my god" Alex said as he read then "Oh my god she's, she's, she's my daughter"
"Yeah" Addison whispered tearfully "Alex if I'd have known, if I'd have, I would've have called you, I really would have"
"I know" he nodded "I know I, this is just, unbelievable"
"Yeah" Addison said with a slight laugh, Alex suddenly pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, quiet sobs started to escape her.
"Hey, hey it's ok" he whispered against her hair "It's ok, it's not your fault, you didn't know Addie, you didn't know, that isn't your fault"
"You've missed out on so much" Addison mumbled against his chest "I'm so sorry"
"What did I just say Addison? This isn't your fault, it isn't, and yes, I've missed out on a lot, but there is so much more to come Addison, so much more"
"Do you, do you even want to, to be her Dad?" she said looking up at him "Because it's ok if you don't, we don't have to tell her"
"Of course I want to be her Dad" Alex said softly "I want to tell her as soon as we can, I fell in love with that kid the minute I met her Addie, she is just so perfect, and so beautiful, and if it's anyones fault, me missing out on all this, it's mine, because if I hadn't have let you down, we'd probably still be together, at least I hope we would"
"Alex" Addison said shakily.
"I loved you so much Addie" Alex said quietly "And I pushed you away because I was scared of that, I was so scared to be in love, because I'd never felt that way before, and I should have come after you, I know that, but the time just kept ticking by and I figured you would've moved on and I was just, too late so, I didn't come but, god Addison, I wish I did, because I've never stopped loving you, I don't think I ever will, and you can tell me to get lost, and you can tell me it's too late but, I want another chance Addison, I want us to be together, as a family, if, if you want that"
Addison moved forward and pressed their lips firmly together, their mouths moved in sync, tongues touching, a quiet moan coming from the back of her throat.
"I love you too" she whispered against his mouth "I have never stopped loving you, and I never will stop loving you and, I couldn't ask for a better father for my daughter, for our daughter"
"Speaking of our daughter, if she isn't here, where is she?"
"She's next door, Maya's home from college and she's staying with Sam so, they're just catching up, let's go and get her" Addison breathed, she stood up and brushed herself down a little, wiping the tears from her cheeks, she held her hand out which Alex took and led them out to the deck.
"Hey girls" Addison smiled leaning over the wall "Ellie Mommy needs to talk to you for a little while, can you go inside with Alex please"
"But…."
"It's important Ellie" Addison sighed.
"Ok" Ellie said moving over the wall.
"I'll see you later Ell" Maya smiled "Who's the guy?" Maya mumbled to Addison, Addison waited for Alex to take Ellie inside before speaking "He's an old friend from Seattle, he transfered out here a couple of months ago, and, me and him we, we slept together the day before I came out here, and the day I got here I…."
"Had Mom get you pregnant" Maya finished "Oh my god it, no, is he?"
"Yeah" Addison said shakily "I've been watching them together and, it just clicked, so I ran a DNA test and well, he's her father, and we're, going to give it a shot, as a family, a proper family"
"Well it's about time you got laid" Maya said with a laugh.
"Maya!" Addison exclaimed.
"What? It's true" Maya laughed "Go on, go tell Ellie the news, I'll speak to you later"
"Bye Maya" Addison waved as she backed into her house, Alex sat on the sofa with Ellie on his lap, her back against the arm, a book resting on her lap.
"Hey" she smiled moving to sit next to them "Let's put this down for a second" she said taking the book and putting it on the coffee table "Ellie, me and Alex, we need to tell you something"
"Um, ok" Ellie smiled "What's wrong Mommy?"
"Do you remember me telling you that Aunty Nae helps Mommy's get babies, so Mommy's don't need Daddy's"
"Yeah" Ellie nodded.
"Well, when Mommy needed Aunty Nae to get her a baby without a Daddy Mommy didn't know that a Daddy had already given her what she needed to get a baby, which means Ell, that you do have a Daddy after all"
"I do? I have a Daddy"
"You have a Daddy" Addison smiled "You wanna know who that is?"
"Yes please Mommy" Ellie grinned "I always wanted a Daddy, just like all the other kids at school"
"I know sweetie" Addison said squeezing her hand "Ellie, Alex is your Daddy"
"Really?" Ellie said with wide eyes, her head switching from looking at Addison and then Alex.
"Really" Alex smiled "I'm your Daddy Ell"
Ellie wrapped her arms tightly around him "I really wished you'd be my Daddy" she whispered "I really wished, really hard, I really wished you'd be my Daddy"
"I wished I was your Daddy too baby girl" he whispered back "I love you so much Ellie, so much, and I love your Mommy, so, we're going to be a family ok? A proper family, me, you and Mommy"
"Are, are you going to live here now? With me and Mommy? Cuz most Mommy's and Daddy's live together, unless they're mad at each other like Amy's Mommy and Daddy"
"Well, I don't know Ell" Alex said glancing at Addison briefly.
"I think we could make room for him don't you Ellie?" Addison smiled.
"Well, I think you'll need to throw away some of your clothes Mommy" Ellie said with a laugh.
"Oh really?" Addison laughed "I'll see what I can do"
"Can I go and tell Maya I have a Daddy?"
"Go on then" Alex said with a laugh.
"I love you Daddy" Ellie said kissing his cheek.
"I love you too baby girl" Alex smiled.
"Bye" Ellie said running out.
"Well" Addison breathed moving into Alex's arms "That went well"
"Yeah" Alex said softly.
"You wished your were her Daddy?"
"Yeah, a little" Alex said quietly "I wanted us to be a family I just, didn't know how to tell you that, I didn't want to ruin what we already had, did you know that she, that she wished I was her Daddy?"
"No" Addison said quietly "But I guess I should've seen it coming, she's never got attached to someone as quickly as she did with you, and the only guys in her life are Sam, Pete, Cooper and Dell, and she loves them, she does, but she's always wanted a Dad, always"
"Well I'm here now" Alex said kissing her softly "I'm here" he whispered "I love you"
"I love you too" Addison smiled.
~x~
[2/2] to follow….